The 7 Biggest NCIS Casting Bombshells And New Faces For 2025: From Gibbs’ Prequel Star To A Major Return

The NCIS universe is undergoing its most dramatic casting evolution in years, setting the stage for an explosive 2025 season across all its series. The franchise, which has captivated millions of viewers globally, is not just relying on its veteran stars but is actively expanding its legacy with a highly anticipated prequel and significant new additions to the main teams. This year's casting news is dominated by the search for a new generation of agents, the return of a beloved icon, and the introduction of characters that will reshape the lore of NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

As of December 2025, the focus is heavily on the new series, *NCIS: Origins*, which required the most critical casting decision of the entire franchise: finding an actor capable of portraying the young Gibbs. This deep dive into the casting landscape will reveal every major addition, return, and surprise across *NCIS*, *NCIS: Origins*, *NCIS: Hawai'i*, and *NCIS: Sydney*, ensuring you are fully updated on the dynamic shifts within the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The New Era: Complete Casting Roster for the NCIS Franchise (2025)

The casting news for 2025 is a mix of nostalgic returns and groundbreaking new hires, solidifying the franchise's topical authority by connecting the past, present, and future of the NCIS world. The most significant development is the launch of the prequel series, which necessitated finding actors to embody the younger versions of legendary characters.

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1. NCIS: Origins - The Prequel Cast That Defines Gibbs' Past

The most scrutinized casting process was for *NCIS: Origins*, a series set in 1991 that explores the early days of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The show is executive produced and narrated by the original Gibbs, Mark Harmon.

• Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs: The central role went to Austin Stowell, who was chosen after what Mark Harmon described as "heavy competition" for the part. Stowell's casting was crucial to maintaining the integrity of the iconic character's origin story.
• Mark Harmon (Narrator/Guest Star): Harmon is confirmed to narrate the series, providing a crucial link to the main show. He is also slated for a guest appearance in both *NCIS: Origins* and the main *NCIS* series on November 11, 2025.
• Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks: Schmid steps into the role of the younger version of Gibbs’ future mentor, the seasoned Special Agent Mike Franks, originally played by Muse Watson.
• Mariel Molino as Special Agent Lala Dominguez: Molino plays a new character, Special Agent Lala Dominguez, a sharp and ambitious agent who is one of the first women to achieve success in the male-dominated world of NCIS.
• Adam Kulbersh and Mark Deklin: These actors were recently cast as legacy characters for a specific episode featuring a young Dwayne Pride. Kulbersh will play Betts, and Deklin will portray McLane, rounding out a group known as the "Fed Five."
• Young Dwayne Pride Casting: Casting has begun to find the actor to play a young Dwayne Pride, the character originally played by Scott Bakula in *NCIS: New Orleans*, who will appear later in the season.

2. NCIS (Season 23) - Returns and a New Recurring Face

The flagship series continues its run with its core team returning, but a significant new recurring character has been announced, which will delve deeper into the personal life of Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker.

• Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker: Cole returns as the team leader, continuing his tenure after taking over from Gibbs.
• Sean Murray as NCIS Senior Special Agent Timothy McGee: The longest-serving active agent remains a cornerstone of the team.
• Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres: Valderrama is set to explore a new development for his character in Season 23.
• Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight: Law returns as the former REACT agent.
• Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance: Carroll continues his long-standing role as the head of the agency.
• Diona Reasonover as Forensic Scientist Kasie Hines: Reasonover is back in the lab, providing critical forensic analysis.
• Nancy Travis as Navy Vice Admiral Harriet Parker (Joining): Travis is joining the cast as the sibling of one of the main cast members, playing Navy Vice Admiral Harriet Parker, Alden Parker's sister. This casting promises to add a new layer of family drama and high-level Navy interaction to the show.

3. Casting Continuity: The Teams in Hawai'i and Sydney

The international expansion of the NCIS franchise through its spin-offs, *NCIS: Hawai'i* and *NCIS: Sydney*, relies on a strong ensemble cast that maintains the procedural drama's energy in new, exotic locales.

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NCIS: Hawai'i Cast (Season 4)

The Pearl Harbor-based team, led by the franchise's first female Special Agent in Charge, Jane Tennant, maintains a strong sense of ohana (family) and continuity.

• Vanessa Lachey as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant: Lachey is the confident and capable leader of the NCIS Pearl Harbor team.
• Alex Tarrant as Kai Holman: A new NCIS agent who returned home to care for his father.
• Noah Mills as Jesse Boone: Tennant's second-in-command and a former homicide detective.
• Yasmine Al-Bustami as Lucy Tara: The junior agent on the team.
• Jason Antoon as Ernie Malik: The team's cyber intelligence specialist.
• Tori Anderson as Kate Whistler: A Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) agent who has since become an NCIS agent and is in a relationship with Lucy Tara.

NCIS: Sydney Cast (Season 2)

The newest international spin-off, a co-production between NCIS and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), features a blended team tackling crimes in the Pacific.

• Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey: The American Special Agent-in-Charge who leads the joint task force.
• Todd Lasance as AFP Liaison Officer Jim "JD" Dempsey: Mackey's Australian counterpart.
• Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson: The second NCIS agent on the team.
• Tuuli Narkle as AFP Liaison Officer Evie Cooper: The AFP's tactical and surveillance expert.
• Mavournee Hazel as AFP Forensic Scientist Bluebird "Blue" Gleeson: The team's forensic specialist.
• William McInnes as AFP Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose: The medical examiner.

4. The Casting Secrets: How Austin Stowell Landed the Iconic Role

The casting of Austin Stowell as the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs was arguably the most crucial decision for the franchise in 2025. Mark Harmon, who created the role, revealed that the process involved "heavy competition" among actors. Stowell, known for roles in *Bridge of Spies* and *The Hating Game*, brought a quiet intensity that convinced producers he could capture the essence of the character's early, formative years.

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Stowell’s casting was not merely about physical resemblance but about embodying the emotional core of Gibbs—a man still processing the events that will shape him into the stoic, rule-breaking agent fans know. His performance is closely coordinated with Mark Harmon's narration, ensuring a seamless transition and a deep dive into the character's psyche. This careful selection process highlights the producers' commitment to maintaining the integrity of the NCIS lore.

5. The Legacy Casting: Finding Young Dwayne Pride

Following the casting of young Gibbs, the next major legacy character to be cast for *NCIS: Origins* is Dwayne Pride, the main character from the now-concluded *NCIS: New Orleans*. The inclusion of a young Pride, originally played by Scott Bakula, shows the prequel's intention to connect the franchise's various threads, exploring the origins of the "Fed Five" group. The search for an actor to capture Pride’s charismatic yet determined nature is a testament to the show's ambition to be more than just a Gibbs story—it's an origin story for the entire extended NCIS family.

6. Why Mark Harmon's 2025 Guest Appearance is a Casting Coup

The announcement that Mark Harmon will return for a guest appearance in both *NCIS* and *NCIS: Origins* on November 11, 2025, is a significant casting coup. For the main series, it marks a brief return for Gibbs, who left the team in Season 19 to live a quiet life in Alaska. For the prequel, it provides a powerful, multi-generational moment, likely involving the older Gibbs reflecting on his past. This event is designed to satisfy long-time fans and provide a massive promotional boost, leveraging the emotional connection audiences have with the franchise's founding character.

7. The Future of Casting: Crossovers and New Spin-offs

The current casting landscape suggests a strong foundation for future expansion. With three active series (*NCIS*, *NCIS: Hawai'i*, *NCIS: Sydney*) and one highly-anticipated prequel (*NCIS: Origins*), the opportunity for crossover events remains high. The seamless integration of characters like the young Dwayne Pride and the return of legacy characters like Mike Franks through *Origins* indicates a commitment to a unified narrative. The casting of new recurring characters, such as Nancy Travis, also shows the main show's dedication to character development, ensuring that the casting choices keep the procedural drama feeling fresh, personal, and connected across the entire NCIS universe.